North Central College Athletics

Accomplishments: 1980 NCAA Division III outdoor national champion in high jump; two-time outdoor All-American; 1980 CCIW high jump champion; current North Central indoor and outdoor high jump record holder. 

Of the 55 individual national championships achieved by members of the North Central College men’s track and field program, only one has been achieved in the high jump. Tom Kerwin ’80 continues to be the standard bearer that Cardinals chase in the event. 

Kerwin made his mark on the national scene as a junior. He became the first North Central athlete to surpass the seven-foot barrier in the high jump, clearing 7’0” at the Illini Classic Meet.  

He was the top-ranked NCAA Division III jumper in the nation heading into the outdoor national championships in Berea, Ohio, where he cleared 6’9 3/4" to place second overall. He was voted North Central’s Most Outstanding Athlete that year in recognition of his performance. 

Kerwin also was ranked first nationally heading to the national championships as a senior, clearing 7’0” at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championships. He broke the previous meet record by two inches and became the first CCIW jumper (and still one of just two ever) to eclipse the seven-foot mark at a conference meet.  

At the national championships, hosted by North Central in Naperville, Kerwin capped off his career by clearing 7’0 1/4” to win the national title and establish a new Division III championship meet record.  

Kerwin continues to hold North Central’s indoor and outdoor varsity records in the high jump and owned the CCIW Outdoor Championship meet record for more than 30 years.